Data on fungal abundance and diversity in copper and cobalt contaminated tailing soils in Kitwe, Zambia
Mining activities in the Zambian Copperbelt Province have led to the release of heavy metal-containing waste, causing contamination in nearby areas. Despite this environmental challenge, limited knowledge exists regarding the mycobiota in copper mine sites. This study investigates fungal community s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Data in Brief |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352340923009824 |
| _version_ | 1797317125402001408 |
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| author | Leonce Dusengemungu Cousins Gwanama Benjamin Mubemba |
| author_facet | Leonce Dusengemungu Cousins Gwanama Benjamin Mubemba |
| author_sort | Leonce Dusengemungu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mining activities in the Zambian Copperbelt Province have led to the release of heavy metal-containing waste, causing contamination in nearby areas. Despite this environmental challenge, limited knowledge exists regarding the mycobiota in copper mine sites. This study investigates fungal community structure in copper(Cu) and cobalt (Co) contaminated soils around decommisioned dams in Kitwe. Metagenomic analysis of the ITSF1 gene amplicons was used for the purpose. The composition of soil fungal communities was characterized, and the findings revealed significant insights. At the phylum level, Basidiomycota dominated the fungal profiles in the tailings (64.59%), followed by Ascomycota (21.30%), Glomeromycota (4.53%), and Rozellomycota (0.0275%). Several fungal genera, including Vanrija, Paraconiothyrium, Toxicladosporium, Neocosmospora, Septoglomus, and Fusarium, were more abundant in contaminated tailings soils, suggesting their potential in leaching, absorbing, and transforming heavy metals. In contrast, the reference soil at Mwekera National Forest exhibited different dominance patterns with four fungal phyla identified, with Basidiomycota and Ascomycota dominating most samples. Glomeromycota, known for forming arbuscular mycorrhizae with plants, were found in contaminated soils, while Rozellomycota, which can serve ecological roles in various ecosystems, were also present. Notable fungal species such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Oidiodendron demonstrated resilience to Cu and Co, the primary contaminants in the Copperbelt. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:30:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6caafd951eb746719cc4b5c780bac712 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-3409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:30:19Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Data in Brief |
| spelling | doaj.art-6caafd951eb746719cc4b5c780bac7122024-02-11T05:10:40ZengElsevierData in Brief2352-34092024-02-0152109951Data on fungal abundance and diversity in copper and cobalt contaminated tailing soils in Kitwe, ZambiaLeonce Dusengemungu0Cousins Gwanama1Benjamin Mubemba2School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, The Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia,; The Copperbelt University, Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Mining, Kitwe, Zambia; Corresponding author.School of Natural Resources, The Copperbelt University, Kitwe, ZambiaSchool of Natural Resources, The Copperbelt University, Kitwe, ZambiaMining activities in the Zambian Copperbelt Province have led to the release of heavy metal-containing waste, causing contamination in nearby areas. Despite this environmental challenge, limited knowledge exists regarding the mycobiota in copper mine sites. This study investigates fungal community structure in copper(Cu) and cobalt (Co) contaminated soils around decommisioned dams in Kitwe. Metagenomic analysis of the ITSF1 gene amplicons was used for the purpose. The composition of soil fungal communities was characterized, and the findings revealed significant insights. At the phylum level, Basidiomycota dominated the fungal profiles in the tailings (64.59%), followed by Ascomycota (21.30%), Glomeromycota (4.53%), and Rozellomycota (0.0275%). Several fungal genera, including Vanrija, Paraconiothyrium, Toxicladosporium, Neocosmospora, Septoglomus, and Fusarium, were more abundant in contaminated tailings soils, suggesting their potential in leaching, absorbing, and transforming heavy metals. In contrast, the reference soil at Mwekera National Forest exhibited different dominance patterns with four fungal phyla identified, with Basidiomycota and Ascomycota dominating most samples. Glomeromycota, known for forming arbuscular mycorrhizae with plants, were found in contaminated soils, while Rozellomycota, which can serve ecological roles in various ecosystems, were also present. Notable fungal species such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Oidiodendron demonstrated resilience to Cu and Co, the primary contaminants in the Copperbelt.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352340923009824Fungal diversityITSF1MetagenomicsKitwe |
| spellingShingle | Leonce Dusengemungu Cousins Gwanama Benjamin Mubemba Data on fungal abundance and diversity in copper and cobalt contaminated tailing soils in Kitwe, Zambia Data in Brief Fungal diversity ITSF1 Metagenomics Kitwe |
| title | Data on fungal abundance and diversity in copper and cobalt contaminated tailing soils in Kitwe, Zambia |
| title_full | Data on fungal abundance and diversity in copper and cobalt contaminated tailing soils in Kitwe, Zambia |
| title_fullStr | Data on fungal abundance and diversity in copper and cobalt contaminated tailing soils in Kitwe, Zambia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Data on fungal abundance and diversity in copper and cobalt contaminated tailing soils in Kitwe, Zambia |
| title_short | Data on fungal abundance and diversity in copper and cobalt contaminated tailing soils in Kitwe, Zambia |
| title_sort | data on fungal abundance and diversity in copper and cobalt contaminated tailing soils in kitwe zambia |
| topic | Fungal diversity ITSF1 Metagenomics Kitwe |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352340923009824 |
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